(13 Aug 2013, 7:23 am)Daniel wrote I think the lad that provided me with the info regarding the Lambton Worm may have been wrong, looking at the timetables. I'm sure it was like a 'dedicated driver' sort of thing though - the driver of the 34 would go back to the depot at 1943 after finishing on 34s for the day and then later another driver would come back out ready for the 2050 departure of the 28B on the same vehicle, and would stay on it all night. He'd receive a break in the middle too, before the final departure.
Assuming he was wrong, where do you think it goes onto the 34s? The 34 timetable doesn't mention any changeovers as I'm sure it should do.
Well the evening & Sunday 34's heading to Waldridge Park take about 10 Mins longer and require a change at Chester-Le-Street. My understanding was that a 28 came in set down at south burns at 20:45 then goes round onto Front Street to work the remaining part of the 34A to Waldridge Park, leaving at 20:52. Then the bus that did 20:26 34A departure from Ouston gets into Chester for 20:42, drops off any through passengers on front street then runs round and does the 20:50 departure on the 28B at South Burns. It's the same on a Sunday 11:26 34A departure from Ouston does the same, drops off through passengers on front street at 11:42, runs round to South Bjrns for the 11:47 28 departure. The 28 from Newcastle would get into Chester at 11:48 then it runs round to front street to work the remaining 34A to Waldridge Park at 11:52.
On the evenings, I think it's a pointless interworking as on Sunday it's because the route takes a little more than hour (including layover times) so thats why the interworking allows them to have extra time. However on evenings, i think 5 mins layover at South Burns in adequet in my opinion so I'm not sure why this happens, as it only case as disruption to through passengers on the 34- which if unavoidable fair enough I suppose, but in this case I don't see why it needs to? Anyone got any ideas? It must happen as I have no other reasons hy the 34A's need a change of buses in Chester. The only explanation I have is that this way means the 34A takes up a wholly one hour cycle, as the route doesn't really allow for much layover either side at Ouston/Urpeth or at Waldridge Park, so the extra time to keep the service on track is used in Chester on the route forward, and interworking allows them to kill time (so it becomes an hour round trip) and also helps with time keeping.